The NodesNow desktop web app is your gateway to the future of collaborative meetings. Mirroring the features of our touchscreen app, the web app enables you to join meetings remotely, set up meeting spaces in advance, assist meeting facilitators from the comfort of your chair, and work asynchronously.
This hands-on guide will take you through the web app, from logging in and managing spaces on the dashboard to using the canvas' toolbox and collaborating and communicating with your peers.
Requirements
To follow along with this guide, you'll need two things:
NodesNow mobile app
NodesNow account
Mobile app
If you haven't downloaded it yet, the mobile app is available for both iOS on the Apple App Store and Android on Google Play.
Account
Register for a NodesNow account using your email or sign in with Google, Microsoft, or Apple. If you need help, see our registration tutorial.
Once you have the mobile app and account, you're ready to start.
App overview
The two main sections of the NodesNow desktop are the dashboard and the canvas. This section of the guide provides an overview of both.
1. Get to know how the web app is organized
1. Get to know how the web app is organized
Dashboard
The dashboard allows you to manage spaces, including creating, opening, naming, and archiving them.
Canvas
The canvas is where you collaborate in NodesNow spaces. It includes a robust set of tools, including integrated MS Teams, so you can collaborate and communicate effectively no matter where your team is in the world. It also plugs into the touchscreen and mobile apps so...
With that, let's jump in from signing up to collaborating and communicating with your team in a space.
Managing spaces on the dashboard
The dashboard is your NodesNow spaces headquarters. Here, you can create spaces, name and add descriptions to spaces, open spaces, and archive spaces. This section covers each of those functions.
2. Manage spaces on the dashboard
2. Manage spaces on the dashboard
Create a new space
Click CREATE > Create space to start a new space.
Name and add a description to a space
Click the three dots menu and then Details to see and edit a space's name and description.
Open a space
Double-click a space to open it.
Archive a space
Click the three dots menu and then Archive space to archive a space.
Exploring the NodesNow space canvas
Collaboration in NodesNow spaces takes place on the app's canvas. Here, we'll run through the tools in the canvas toolbox and then cover how to quickly navigate in spaces.
3. Test out the toolbox
3. Test out the toolbox
If you haven't already created and opened a space (directions in the previous section), do so now. From there, let's try the various tools in the canvas's toolbox.
Draw
Tap the pencil icon in the canvas's toolbox to open the drawing menu.
Select a color from the color palette or use the default setting.
Choose a line thickness or use the default setting.
Click anywhere on the canvas to start drawing.
As with the rest of the tools in the toolbox, after you create an item on the canvas, you can move, duplicate, resize, and delete it. Here's how:
Move, duplicate, resize, and delete
Move
Click a drawing to select it.
Click and drag it to your desired location.
Release to place it.
Duplicate
Click a drawing to select it.
In the drawing menu, click the duplication icon.
Move the duplicate drawing as above.
Resize
Click a drawing to select it.
Click and draw one of the corners on the drawing's bounding box to adjust the size.
Delete
Click a drawing to select it.
Click the trash can icon to delete it.
Undo changes
To undo changes:
Click the undo icon.
To recover an action you've undone:
Click the redo icon.
Note: NodesNow provides support for up to 15 undo and redo actions.
Write a note
Select the notes icon in the canvas's toolbox.
Type something.
If desired, click the yellow circle to change the note's color.
Click anywhere on the canvas to set the note.
Note: You can edit notes in the same way that you edit drawings. See Move, duplicate, resize, and delete above for details.
Write on the canvas
Select the text icon in the canvas's toolbox.
Type something.
Click anywhere on the canvas to set the text.
To move the text:
Click on it.
Click and drag it to your desired location.
Release to place it.
Note: You can edit text blocks in the same way that you edit drawings. See Move, duplicate, resize, and delete above for details.
Add a shape to the canvas
To add a shape to the canvas:
Select the shapes icon in the canvas's toolbox.
To write on the shape:
Double click on it and type something.
To move the shape:
Click on it.
Click and drag it to your desired location.
Release to place it.
Note: You can edit shapes in the same way that you edit drawings. See Move, duplicate, resize, and delete above for details.
Upload an image or video
To upload images and videos directly to a space's canvas:
Click the upload icon in the canvas toolbar.
This will open your computer's file organizer.
In your file organizer, choose the .jpg, .png, or .mp4 files you want to upload. The size limit is 1 MB per file.
Note: You can work with images and videos in the same way as drawings. See Move, duplicate, resize, and delete above for details.
4. Navigate around the canvas
4. Navigate around the canvas
NodesNow canvases offer an infinite workspace, allowing you the freedom to zoom and move around to optimize your view and interaction with your work.
Moving around the canvas
To navigate across the canvas:
Using a trackpad: Place two fingers on the trackpad and slide in the direction you want to move the canvas.
Using a mouse: For horizontal movement, use the horizontal scroll feature by tilting the scroll wheel to the left or right. Alternatively, click and drag to move around the canvas if your mouse supports this functionality.
Zooming in and out
Adjust your view by zooming in or out on the canvas using the following methods:
Keyboard and mouse/trackpad combination: Hold down the Ctrl key (use the Command key on Mac) and scroll vertically using your mouse wheel or trackpad. Scrolling up zooms in, and scrolling down zooms out.
Browser Zoom Tools:
Quick zoom: Use the Ctrl + + key combination to zoom in, and Ctrl + - to zoom out. (Replace Ctrl with Command on Mac.)
Selecting zoom percentage: Click on the current zoom percentage in your browser's address bar or menu to select a specific zoom level.
Reset zoom level: To quickly return to the default view, click it to set the zoom level back to 100%.
5. Close the space
5. Close the space
When you're ready to end a session, it's time to exit the space. Here's how:
Tap BACK TO DASHBOARD.
Your space will be saved and you'll be taken to your NodesNow dashboard.
Collaborating in NodesNow spaces
In NodesNow, you'll collaborate in both your spaces and other people's spaces. For your spaces, you'll need to invite others to your spaces. For other people's spaces, you'll need an invitation from them. This section covers both.
6. Invite others to collaborate in a space
6. Invite others to collaborate in a space
To invite people to a space:
Open a space and tap JOIN REMOTELY to generate an invitation URL and QR code.
Share the space's URL and PIN with your collaborators.
Invitees will be able to access the space from the NodesNow desktop web app and mobile app.
Note: You can also use the mobile app to invite people to a space.
7. Collaborate in someone else's space
7. Collaborate in someone else's space
Get the space's URL and PIN from the space's owner and enter it into your browser's address bar.
Sign into NodesNow.
Select Join the space as a participant.
Enter your display name and the space's security PIN.
You'll be taken to the space, where you can begin collaborating.
Communicating in NodesNow spaces
Communication in NodesNow takes place in MS Teams, which is integrated into NodesNow spaces. This section explores everything you need to know about using Microsoft Teams in NodesNow.
8. Try out Microsoft Teams in NodesNow spaces
8. Try out Microsoft Teams in NodesNow spaces
Start or join a Microsoft Teams call
To start or join a Microsoft Teams call within a session:
Tap START TEAMS CALL on the touchscreen.
Upon doing so:
The Microsoft Teams menu will be displayed.
You'll be asked for permission to access your computer's camera and microphone.
The participant interface will appear.
Invite participants to the call
Since Teams calls are embedded in NodesNow, your collaborators can join you in both your space and its integrated Teams call with the space's URL.
However, if you want to invite someone to a call who isn't near a computer, you can invite them directly to a Microsoft Teams call so they can join on a mobile device. To do so:
Tap the + icon in the Microsoft Teams menu.
This will generate an invite URL and QR code that you can share.
Share your screen with Microsoft Teams call participants
To share your screen during a Microsoft Teams call:
Tap the screen sharing icon in the Microsoft Teams menu.
Control the camera and microphone
During calls, the camera and microphone are activated by default. To toggle them on and off:
Tap the camera and microphone icons in the Microsoft Teams toolbox.
End the call
To conclude the call:
Click END CALL.
Next steps
Congratulations! If you've gone through this guide, you're ready to contribute to productive collaboration in NodesNow.
9. Learn more about participating in NodesNow spaces
9. Learn more about participating in NodesNow spaces
If haven't led a session yet, check out our guide for facilitators or getting started with the touchscreen. If you're attending a meeting soon, check out our guides for in-person and remote collaborators.